Posted on 02/25/2008 8:38:35 AM PST by kiriath_jearim
A battle is brewing between the Honolulu Police Department and the Hawaii Rifle Association over a proposed ban of a high-powered sniper rifle.
KITV's Catherine Cruz reported that the 50-caliber rifle is dubbed the most powerful rifle on the market today, and the HPD said it is their worst nightmare. That is why they said they want it out of civilian hands.
It's a weapon that's long been used by the military and law enforcement, but in most states, a person can buy it over the Internet or from a gun store, which is making law enforcement uneasy.
"There is nothing we have that can withstand this. If you look at an armored car, those things have a half-inch of steel. These can go through 1 inch of steel at a thousand yards," HPD Major Gregory Lefcourt said.
The rifle can fire 10 rounds in 10 seconds, and the bullets can travel for miles, police officials said.
They said that a shot fired from the rooftop at police headquarters could precisely hit a target at the state Capitol, four-tenths of a mile away.
The National Guard calls the weapon a threat to homeland security.
"It does concern us -- shooting down airplanes four miles distances," Hawaii National Guard Gen.Gary Ishikawa said.
The National Rifle Association said that a ban would infringe on the right to bear arms. It argued that the weapon hasn't ever been used in a crime in the islands.
"We haven't had any incidents of robbers at banks or terrorist shooting airplanes -- it just doesn't happen," HRA member Mark Plischke said.
But police said they don't want to wait until then.
They said the proposed ban will die in the judiciary committee if they don't get enough public support for the bill.
The rifles are outlawed for civilian use in California, New Jersey and New York.
The HRA maintained that their members use it for hunting or eradicating goats. Others users of the rifle said they enter long range firing competitions
The rifle is so powerful that it has been banned from the Kokohead Firing Range, range officials said. The rifle is only allowed at military ranges, which are off limits to civilians.
It is also very expensive. One rifle will fetch about $8,000, officials said.
There are 125 registered owners of the high-powered rifle in the state, with 90 owners living on Oahu.
And guess what Ronnie Barrett at Barrett arms did... His company developed, and now sells, the same rifle chambered for a new, proprietary cartridge: The .416 Barrett. Not quite as large as the .50 BMG, but with better long-range ballistics that keep it supersonic, and thus more accurate at even longer ranges than his company's .50 BMG rifles.
Thus, the gun-grabbers have legislated more of what they DON'T want: Better guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens. (None for the cops, though. If my understanding is correct, Barrett won't sell ANY rifles to police dept's in the state of CA. Where's the legitimate police / law enforcement usage for those things?)
"No problem", you say, "we'll just outlaw those mean ol' .416 rifles too"? Right?
You do realize that the most dangerous weapons available to a common criminal is a small caliber concealable handgun, or a knife, don’t you?
How much crime do you think is prevented by keeping A10 warthogs out of the hands of citizens? M1 abrams tanks? Land mines? shoulder fired missiles?
Use your brain, bud.
“Other than the pure excitement of shooting such a weapon, does this gun have any legitimate purpose for civilian use? I would be in support of this weapon not being available for civilian purchase.”
It is best used for armed revolution and protecting yourself from government.
Oh yeah... That’s what the 2nd amendment is about! It has nothing to do with hunting. Your ignorance is showing.
I believe that the public should have sufficient firepower to make it very unlikely the police or the military would try to do certain things that are against our U.S. Constitution. If you disagree, that’s fine by me.
What you have basicly signed on to, is the idea that our government knows best and we should never be able to challenge it.
Good luck with that.
I’m not basicly anti-police or anti-government. When I see the government do things like burning 80 men women and chidren to death with no questions asked, I get a wee bit nervous.
“You can buy one but it will be shipped to a licensed FFA dealer where you pick it up.”
Where all applicable background checks and paperwork will be completed before you can take possession.
If you can afford to own and operate any or all of them, be my guest.
But we both know you can't. But maybe a .50 BMG is in your budget range and if so, get one
But in the mean time, you need to keep your hands off of other people's weaponry.
There is a self loading version of a 50 cal...
These guys are obviously not watching Mythbusters.....
250 rounds of .50 belted in cans would be almost 50 cans...that’s an awful lot of space for something like an F-4 or similar....
And the liberals are trying to shut it down now. The new angle is "stray bullets" may endanger people hiking up the old rail line on Koko Crater. First they posted keep out signs on the trail, gathered in the expected outcry, and blamed it all on the rifle range.
The fact that the range has been there decades with no such accidents is irrelevant of course.........
***but in most states, a person can buy it over the Internet or from a gun store***
Why are they so stupid?
Before even finishing the article.
Yep, good point.
Nah, it is only that if you disagree with him you become a fear mongering nit wit.
He rejects the emphasis of the 2A, shall not be infringed.
He rejects history and once common practices of having private arms.
He rejects the notion of personal freedom in what was once condsidered a free country.
He doesn't trust other citizens with freedom, but I'll bet that he wouldn't mind owning a Barret, etc if he could afford it....just won't allow the "little people" to have one.
***The rifle can fire 10 rounds in 10 seconds, and the bullets can travel for miles,***
The Mad Minute - http://www.thegunzone.com/practice.html
Wow, is Congress making any laws that infringe your right to free speech?
No!
But do you get to enjoy a well deserved flaming for your idiotic words and disgust for Constitutional rights?
Asolutely!
Sigmund Freud
I'll check that historic document, the "Bill of Legitimate Purposes".
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